Predicting immune checkpoint therapy response in three independent metastatic melanoma cohorts.

Introduction: While Immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) therapy shows significant efficacy in metastatic melanoma, only about 50% respond, lacking reliable predictive methods. We introduce a panel of six proteins aimed at predicting response to ICI therapy. Methods: Evaluating previously reported proteins in two untreated melanoma cohorts, we used a published predictive model (EaSIeR score) to identify potential proteins distinguishing responders and non-responders. Results: Six proteins initially identified in the ICI cohort correlated with predicted response in the untreated cohort. Additionally, three proteins correlated with patient survival, both at the protein, and at the transcript levels, in an independent immunotherapy treated cohort. Discussion: Our study identifies predictive biomarkers across three melanoma cohorts, suggesting their use in therapeutic decision-making.

Predicting immune checkpoint therapy response in three independent metastatic melanoma cohorts.

While Immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) therapy shows significant efficacy in metastatic melanoma, only about 50% respond, lacking reliable predictive methods. We introduce a panel of six proteins aimed at predicting response to ICI therapy. Evaluating previously reported proteins in two untreated melanoma cohorts, we used a published predictive model (EaSIeR score) to identify potential proteins distinguishing responders and non-responders. Six proteins initially identified in the ICI cohort correlated with predicted response in the untreated cohort. Additionally, three proteins correlated with patient survival, both at the protein, and at the transcript levels, in an independent immunotherapy treated cohort. Our study identifies predictive biomarkers across three melanoma cohorts, suggesting their use in therapeutic decision-making.

MITF regulates IDH1 and NNT and drives a transcriptional program protecting cutaneous melanoma from reactive oxygen species.

Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) plays pivotal roles in melanocyte development, function, and melanoma pathogenesis. MITF amplification occurs in melanoma and has been associated with resistance to targeted therapies. Here, we show that MITF regulates a global antioxidant program that increases survival of melanoma cell lines by protecting the cells from reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced damage. In addition, this redox program is correlated with MITF expression in human melanoma cell lines and patient-derived melanoma samples. Using a zebrafish melanoma model, we show that MITF decreases ROS-mediated DNA damage in vivo . Some of the MITF target genes involved, such as IDH1 and NNT , are regulated through direct MITF binding to canonical enhancer box (E-BOX) sequences proximal to their promoters. Utilizing functional experiments, we demonstrate the role of MITF and its target genes in reducing cytosolic and mitochondrial ROS. Collectively, our data identify MITF as a significant driver of the cellular antioxidant state. One Sentence Summary: MITF promote melanoma survival via increasing ROS tolerance.